Former Idaho governor dies

Former Gov. John Victor Evans Sr., one of Idaho’s last Mormon Democrats to achieve statewide political success, has died. He was 89.

Summers Funeral Home confirmed he died Tuesday morning at his home in Boise.

The governor’s office told Local News 8 that Evans will lie in state in the Capitol building Friday. The time is yet to be determined.

Evans was born Jan. 18, 1925, in Malad City. He is the grandson of the founder of the Idaho-based D.L. Evans Bank.

Evans was elected Idaho lieutenant governor in 1974, a position he held for the next three years. In 1977, he was elevated to the chief executive job when then-Gov. Cecil D.

Andrus was named U.S. Interior secretary under President Jimmy Carter.

A year later, Evans became the first member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be elected Idaho governor, a post which he won again in 1982.

” Having had the good fortune to serve under Gov. Evans, I got to know him as a sincere professional who understood the cost of success and took seriously his responsibilities as Idaho’s chief executive,” said current Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter in a statement Tuesday.”He always had the best of intentions and was earnest in his love of Idaho.I admired John’s willingness to compete in the marketplace of ideas and his ability to keep himself and his office above the day-to-day political fray.”